All Things Smart Homeownership

Our favorite home podcasts

September 29, 2017

Podcasting dates back to the early 1980s. Back then it was called “audioblogging,” but the practice became wildly popular in the early 2000s when we were all introduced to broadband internet and portable digital audio devices. (Remember your first iPod?)

Today, there are over 115,000 podcasts in the English language alone, and most of them are freely accessible to the public. It’s easier than ever to get a Podcast app on your computer or smart phone (in fact, most phones come with it as a default app) and search through a seemingly endless list of topics and hosts.

But the information age does come with its challenges. With so many options, how do you choose?

We did a little digging to help narrow down the list. Our selection criteria were simple: home- and finance-related podcasts that we thought would be helpful (and interesting!) to today’s savvy homebuyers and homeowners. Our methods weren’t terribly scientific, but we hope you enjoy our list.

And if you have a favorite that we missed, please let us know about it on Facebook.

1. At Home with Bob Vila

Remember watching Bob Vila and Norm Abram on This Old House as a kid? No? Just us? Well, Bob Vila is a legend in the world of home improvement, and his podcast is excessively practical. Each episode is only one-minute long and focuses on a very specific area of home maintenance.

2. The (Unofficial) Fixer Upper Podcast

If you love the show Fixer Upper as much as we do, then you’ll love this podcast too. Hosts Gary and Kathy Leland – two of the show's biggest fans – unpack each episode week-by-week, exploring Joanna’s expert design choices, Chip’s unexpected surprises, and lots of other renovation details you might have missed. Now is a great time to catch up before their last season starts in November!

3. Style Matters

Ever wonder why that living room you saw on Pinterest looks so fabulous, but you can’t seem to re-create it for yourself? On the Style Matters podcast, friends Karen June Grant and Zandra Zuraw interview top designers and stylists to understand how they integrate their own personal aesthetic into their homes, and why personal style matters.

4. The RHS Gardening Podcast

The Royal Horticultural Society has recorded over 100 episodes (and counting) of tips, tools, advice, and inspiration for every home gardener. They talk with trusted garden professionals to bring you the latest research and techniques for bringing the best out of your garden. And they even offer master classes on more specific topics. Before you head over to your local garden center for advice, browse the RHS archives instead.

5. You Bet Your Garden

For the ecofriendly gardener, this weekly syndicated Public Radio broadcast offers chemical-free gardening advice from host Mike McGrath, the Garden Editor for WTOP News Radio in Washington, D.C. If you’re looking to go (or stay) organic, this is the gardening podcast for you.

6. Real Estate Today

Want to have a better sense of the housing market? The Real Estate Today podcast is America’s #1 real estate program, compiled by award-winning journalists to bring you critical and credible information about the real estate market. They have a diverse array of fast-paced, fact-packed episodes, including interviews, experts, call-ins, and field reports. And this one is available on iTunes or on radio stations across the country.

7. Freakonomics Radio

From the authors of Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything comes this award-winning weekly podcast. Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner are not typical economists – they have proven to the world that economics is about more than just money. At its core, economics is the study of pretty much everything, especially the interconnected lives of humans. Dubner hosts a series of surprising conversations with a diverse set of people exploring the mysterious riddles of everyday life. With this economics podcast, you’ll learn about a lot more than just money.

8. Planet Money

Looking for another take on the economy? This one more direct, but still somehow easy to digest? The hosts at Planet Money, another syndicated Public Radio broadcast, are it. They want to be your best friend who also happens to be an expert economist.

Ready to take the next step in your homebuying journey with all the confidence of a smart and savvy homebuyer? Our comprehensive online homebuyer course is simple and easy to access on your computer, tablet, and mobile device. It's all the information you need, all in one place. Go ahead and get started today.